This week we are doing a cooperative game called team juggling. This comes on the heals of our underhand throwing unit for all grades. This is a great unit that helps students work together and realize the importance of a team. It differs from regular juggling because 10-12 students are placed in a circle and given one ball to start. They proceed to underhand toss it to the person across from them, then that student tosses it to a different person across from them, this continues until all players on the team have caught and thrown the ball. The pattern stays the same for the rest of the game. It continues to get harder because different equipment is added to the pattern so as many as 4 objects are going at once. When they have practiced for some time, then I time each team to see who has the least amount of drops in 1 minute. Last year we only had two teams in the whole school that didn’t drop a ball for the whole minute. I also include a 5 minute session where teams can give suggestions on what they can do better and come up with strategies to help them be successful. The standard I am looking to meet is New Mexico State Standard # 5 (Check out all our standards under the Great PE Links section).

This week in PE we are turning the gym into a bowling alley. All students will get the opportunity to bowl at Tiger Lanes. Before we get to rolling we will warm up with jump rope to get our heart rates up as we jump for 10 minutes.

After our warm-up I will be explaining the importance of a proper grip, stepping with the opposite foot, and releasing the ball low in order to get a nice roll. This will be building on our previous unit in which we covered underhand throwing. The rolling technique is very similar and we even use the same cues of facing your target, stepping in opposition, and “tick tock.” Older students will keep track of their games and have their own score card while the younger students will just be introduced to the basics. We have different size bowling balls and equipment in order to modify for all ages and skill levels. It’s going to be a great week!!

This week in PE we are working on throwing and catching. For the younger grades we will focus on the underhand throw and catching with two hands. The main cues for the under hand throw are “Tick Tock.” We will start by throwing to a target and move on to partners and then put it into a small game called Oscar’s garbage can. During this game students must use an underhand throw to the garbage can (mats that are standing up) while two students are in the garbage can throwing is back out.

For the older grades we will be outside if the weather permits and working on the overhand throw. We will have all different kinds of equipment to throw, things ranging from a football to a yarn ball. The main cues for the overhand throw are 1. Side to target2. Step with the opposite foot3. Make an L- Shape with the arm you are throwing with4. Follow through

After throwing to one another for a while we will work on throwing to a moving target and then put it all into a game called ultimate football. I am more focused on the throwing this week and less concerned about the catching however next week we will primarily focus on the catch side of things.

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About Me

I am the physical education teacher at Osuna Elementary in Albuquerque, New Mexico. I am a big sports enthusiast; I love watching, playing but especially teaching and coaching sports. I am the JV baseball coach at Sandia High School. I also run a baseball academy called FUN-Damental Baseball School which helps kids 5 and up improve their baseball skills(for more info contact me at jtainter@hotmail.com). I enjoy spending time with my wife, my little brothers and the rest of my friends and family.